Holographic printer

Abstract

This invention is an optical printer that translates and records visual information that can be seen with ambient light in the first generation holographic printing. The invention permits recording of the information to be made into the light sensitive emulsion as a relief. The result is a stereo-optical, multichannel holographic recording of said information. Applications of the invention may include the commercial photography industry, cinematography, medical, passports, drivers' licenses, security entrance control systems, military, point of purchase advertising, publishing and security as well as other uses connected with all relevant existing holographic technology.

I CLAIM: 
     
       1. A holographic printer comprising: a. a source of coherent light;   b. means for dividing said source into first and second beams, said first beam defining a first optical axis, said second beam defining a second optical axis;   c. first means, positioned along said first optical axis, for supporting one or more transparent images;   d. recording means positioned along both said first and second optical axes;   e. optical projection means positioned along said first optical axis between said recording means and said first supporting means, said projection means focusing the image of said transparent image on the front surface of said recording means;   f. second means for supporting said first supporting means, said projection means and said recording means and for simultaneously rotating said first supporting means, said projection means and said recording means about said first optical axis; and   g. means for projecting said second beam onto said recording means in such a manner that said second beam is fully superimposed over said first beam.   
     
     
       2. The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second beam is projected onto said front surface of said recording means, to form a transmission image plane hologram. 
     
     
       3. The printer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for projecting said second beam includes an objective lens means. 
     
     
       4. The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second beam is projected onto the back surface of said recording means, to form a reflection image plane hologram. 
     
     
       5. The printer as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means for projecting said second beam includes an objective lens means. 
     
     
       6. The printer as set forth in claim 1, further including an objective lens means and a spatial filter positioned along said first optical axis between said dividing means and said first supporting means, said filter eliminating coherent noise. 
     
     
       7. The printer as set forth in claim 6, further including a columination lens, said columinating lens positioned along said first optical axis between said optical projection means and said recording means. 
     
     
       8. A holographic printer comprising: a. a source of coherent light;   b. means for dividing said source into first and second beams, said first beam defining a first optical axis, said second beam defining a second optical axis;   c. recording means positioned along both said first and optical axes;   d. first means for supporting at least one three dimensional object, said first supporting means being positioned along said first optical axis such that said three dimensional object is illuminated by said first beam and at least a portion of the light is reflected by said object onto said recording means;   e. second means for supporting said first supporting means and said recording means and for simultaneously rotating said first supporting means and said recording means about said first optical axis; and   f. means for projecting said second beam onto said recording means in such a manner that said second beam is fully superimposed over said first beam.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first support means is rotatably supported relative to said second support means. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first support means is rotated about an axis perpendicular to said first optical axis. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further including second means for dividing said first beam into a first object beam and a second object beam, and means for directing said object beams onto said three dimensional object. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second beam is projected onto said front surface of said recording means, to form a transmission image plane hologram. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for projecting said second beam includes an objective lens means. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second beam is projected onto the back surface of said recording means, to form a reflection image plane hologram. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, the printer as set forth in claim 9, wherein said means for projecting said second beam includes an objective lens means. 
     
     
       16. A method of producing a white light viewable multiple image plain hologram, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing two beams of coherent light, an object beam and a reference beam;   b. providing a recording medium;   c. directing said object beam first through a transparency and then through a projection lens means to provide an expanded image of the image on said transparency on said reading medium;   d. simultaneously with projecting said expanded image onto said recording medium, projecting said reference beam onto said recording medium, such that said reference beam fully overlaps said expanded image; and   e. between exposures of said recording medium rotating said transparency, said projection lens means and said recording medium about the axis of said object beam.